The Scandal Queen

Episode Seventeen

Seonho

After Jaewook leaves, the apartment feels emptier than it should. I flop back onto the couch, staring at the ceiling. The corgis, sensing my shift in mood, nuzzle against my legs. I absentmindedly scratch behind their ears, lost in thought.

Why didn’t I tell Jaewook about Iseul? It’s not like I’m ashamed or hiding her because of something she did. No, it’s more complicated than that. I keep replaying moments in my mind—the way she laughs, how her eyes sparkle when she teases me. I like Iseul's straightforward attitude, the way she's always unapologetic about being loud and confident and just … herself. I feel like we just click. The chemistry between us is insane, and I genuinely like being with her.

But then there’s Jaewook. We've always been open about our relationships with others, but this feels different. Iseul doesn't feel like another fling; she could be something more. And that scares me because it could change everything between Jaewook and me.

I let out a sigh, rubbing my temples. When I saw the photographer outside the restaurant during my date with Iseul, a part of me knew what I was doing. It wasn’t planned, but it felt like an opportunity—an opportunity to test the waters with Iseul and see how she'd react to the idea of being more public about us. But also, a way to start the conversation with Jaewook without having to come right out and say it.

“Hey girl,” I murmur to one of the corgis as she curls up beside me. “Do dogs have courtship rules or do you guys just like who you like and do what the mood calls for? Probably the latter, right?”

She looks up at me with those big brown eyes, and for a moment, I envy her simple world.

Iseul hasn’t addressed the pictures yet. No cryptic tweets or bold statements on social media. It’s making me anxious. Should I reach out to her first? Or would that seem too desperate? The last thing I want is to push her away by coming on too strong.

And there's Jaewook's reaction to consider. He acted nonchalant earlier, but I know him better than that. He's probably already piecing things together in his head, trying to match silhouettes and figure out who this mystery woman is.

I take a deep breath and try to calm my racing thoughts. Maybe it's best if I give Iseul some space for now—let her process everything on her own terms before making any moves. But at the same time, I don’t want her to think I'm indifferent or uninterested.

“Damned if you do, damned if you don’t,” I mutter under my breath.

The truth is, I'm worried about how Jaewook will react when he finds out who Iseul is. Despite our open relationship, there's always been an unspoken understanding that certain boundaries shouldn't be crossed. And falling for someone like Iseul—a woman who's been through so much and carries so much baggage—could be seen as crossing one of those boundaries.

But how can I not feel something for her? She’s strong and resilient in ways that draw me in like a moth to a flame. And every moment we spend together only deepens those feelings.

I run a hand through my hair and close my eyes, trying to sort through the tangled mess of emotions swirling inside me. Maybe it's time for a change—a new approach to handling relationships and feelings instead of sticking to old patterns out of fear or habit.

“Alright,” I say aloud, as if speaking it into existence will make it easier to handle. “I'll just give her time.”

And as for Jaewook … I'll have to ease him into this new reality gently—show him that this doesn’t have to change what we have but can add another layer of depth and connection instead.

For now, though … patience is key.

With that thought firmly planted in my mind, I push myself off the couch and head towards the kitchen for something stronger than water—because navigating love triangles (or maybe quadrangles) definitely calls for a stiff drink.

I’m staring at the ceiling, lost in my thoughts, when my phone buzzes on the coffee table. I glance at the screen and see Iseul’s name flashing. A grin spreads across my face, but something twists in my stomach and I realize something—am I nervous? I never get nervous with women. It’s almost laughable. But maybe it’s a sign I care more for Iseul than I’ve let myself admit.

I pick up the phone and swipe to answer. “Hey, you.”

“Hey,” she replies, her voice steady but with an edge of seriousness. “I'm sure you know, but I think we need to talk about those pictures.”

I sit up straighter on the couch, giving her my full attention. “Alright. What do you want to do?”

“For now,” she says after a brief pause, “I think it’s best we just ignore the buzz and let it die off on its own.”

“I’m okay with that,” I say, though a small part of me worries about the next time we go out. “But you know this might cause problems later. The paparazzi will be keeping a closer eye on me now. It's going to be a pain in the ass to go on dates and keep them secret when they're trailing me everywhere I go.”

There’s a silence on the other end before I decide to go for it. “Would you care if our relationship went public?”

Iseul hesitates, and I can almost hear her thinking through the phone. “Honestly? I wouldn’t care. It's more about what having my name connected to yours might do to your image and maybe even your career.”

Her words surprise me. Does she really think I’d try to hide our relationship to save face? “Iseul,” I start, my tone earnest, “do you really think I’d be ashamed of being with you? I’m not afraid of the media or netizens. I don't give a damn what anyone thinks. The only thing that matters is that we like each other and want to keep seeing each other.”

There’s a pause, and for a moment, fear grips me that I've been too forward.

“Do you really want to keep seeing me?” she asks quietly.

“Yes,” I respond emphatically, without hesitation.

Another pause stretches between us, filled with unspoken thoughts.

“I appreciate that,” she finally says softly. “But right now, I’m enjoying being with you without the pressure of the world watching. I’d like to spend more time together and be certain of where we are before we announce anything.”

Her words are a relief—a confirmation that she likes and wants to keep seeing me, too. There’s potential for something long-term, something real.

“I can agree with that,” I say warmly. “Let’s just take our time.”

The tension in my chest eases as we continue talking about mundane things—what she had for lunch today, how her dog is doing—each word reaffirming that this is where I want to be: in this moment with her.

I stretch out on the couch again, feeling lighter than before. Maybe navigating this new territory won’t be so hard after all.

The conversation drifts into lighter topics—I tell her about the book I'm reading and she tells me about new choreography she's working on that has kept her too busy to call before now. For a brief moment, I think of Jaewook and the conversation we had when he was over earlier. I think Iseul would find Jaewook funny too, and I kind of wish I could tell her, but that's not something I can do without talking with Jaewook about it first. The enormity of the truth of our relationship is something I can't talk about without getting Jaewook's permission. I hope there's a chance I can tell her someday, that I can share that part of my life with her too. By the time we hang up, any lingering nerves have melted away into pure contentment.

For now, we’ll keep things under wraps and savor these moments away from prying eyes. And when the time is right … well, who knows what could happen?

But for now … it feels good just being us.

And that's enough.